When Paths Collide

After a long shower, Jane wrapped herself in a robe as she tried to shake off the tension from the night before. She glanced at the stranger's phone, still sitting on her nightstand. It was locked, so she plugged it in to charge and then headed to bed, planning to stop by the hospital before work the next morning.

The next day, she dressed in a light purple top that draped off one shoulder, paired with loose white pants. She grabbed her bag and keys, heading out the door, planning to visit the hospital before work.

Halfway down the road, the stranger's phone buzzed with an incoming call. She hesitated before picking it up and answering cautiously, "Hello?"

A man's voice came through, filled with tension and worry. "Hello? Who is this?"

Taking a breath to steady herself, Jane replied, "This is Jane. I found this phone with a man who'd been attacked last night. I admitted him to the hospital."

There was a pause, followed by a rush of relief from the other side. "Oh my god," the man said, his voice tight with concern. "Thank you for letting me know. Which hospital? I'll go there right away."

"I'll share the location, sir." She said and hung up the call.

When Jane arrived at the hospital, she went straight to the stranger's room. Through the doorway, she saw the doctor checking his vitals. The man looked much better—awake, his eyes clearer, more alert. Jane hadn't expected him to notice her, but he did. His gaze softened when he saw her standing there, and his face brightened a little as she moved closer.

The doctor caught her looking at him and smiled, then turned to the man. "You're very lucky," he said. "The stab wound was deep, and you'd nearly lost your life from the blood loss. This young lady here donated her blood on the spot and saved your life."

The man's expression shifted, his eyes warm with gratitude as he looked at Jane. "Then I'll have to thank her myself," he said softly, looking at her with a striking smile. 

Jane felt his gaze on her, full of curiosity. She took a seat beside him and offered a small smile.

The stranger's face was striking—his skin smooth and flawless, with just a few faint cuts on his cheek and a dark bruise on his right arm. His features were sharp, with a hint of intensity softened by the weariness in his eyes. He looked like he had stepped out of a Korean drama, his handsome face both familiar and magnetic in a way she couldn't explain.

As Jane sat beside him, she couldn't help but feel a tug of curiosity. Her eyes moved over his form before she realized what she was doing. His shoulders were broad, and his build was muscular but elegant. She felt her cheeks heat up when he caught her looking. For a moment, it seemed like he was studying her just as intently, his eyes steady and warm, as if trying to understand who she was and why she had stayed by his side.

Jane offered her hand. "Hi, I'm Jane," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. He reached out to shake it, his touch warm and gentle. As his fingers closed around hers, her heart thudded loudly in her chest.

"I'm Nick," he replied, his voice deep and smooth. It sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. Oh god, I had too many heart fluttering moments within the past few days. Do I have a thing for men with deep voices?" She thought Richard's voice was enchanting, but Nick's voice was something else—rich and captivating.

"Thank you… for everything," he said, his voice full of gratitude.

"It was nothing, really," she answered, brushing off the praise, even though it felt nice to hear. She gently pulled her hand away from his grasp and handed him his phone and wallet. "A person called. He sounded pretty worried and said he'd be here soon." She informed him.

Nick nodded, glancing down at his phone's call list. "That would be my friend," he said, looking up at her with a smile that was almost too perfect.

A quiet moment passed between them. Jane hesitated before asking, "Do you want to report this to the police?" When their eyes met, his face stiffened slightly, and he shook his head. "No… I'd prefer not to. It's… complicated." Jane nodded, sensing he wasn't ready to share more, so she didn't press.

She looked at the IV drip and smoothed her top, trying to shake off the lingering tension. A quick glance at her watch reminded her she was running late to the office. 

"I need to head to work, but I'll come by this evening. You look like you could use a decent dinner." She said to lighten up his mood.

His face softened, and Jane caught a faint hint of a smile. "I'd like that." He said and looked at her, running his almost pale fingers through his hair. She struggled to hold the gaze of the handsome man in front of her. "Okay, I'll see you tonight." she said after clearing her throat. 

Jane left her business card on the small table next to him. "If you need anything, call me," she said with a smile, her voice soft as she stepped away.

Once she climbed into her car, a grin tugged at her lips. He's probably much younger than me, she thought, replaying his face in her mind.

Her heart did a little jump at the thought, and she sighed, placing a hand over it. You really need to stop acting like this every time you see a handsome guy, she scolded herself with a small laugh, shaking her head as she started the engine and drove off.